UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa says Tuesday’s Khaleeji 27 final against Saudi Arabia represents the chance to reap the rewards of years of work and adversity, with small details likely to decide which team lifts the trophy.
The two sides meet at Alinma Stadium at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 Mecca time.
“This is not just another match. We have faced many challenges over the past few years, and in football the smallest details can give one team an advantage over the other,” Eisa said at the pre-match news conference.
The experienced goalkeeper said the UAE hoped the final would reflect the progress made during that period, while calling on supporters to remain patient and continue backing the national team.
“Football is about learning from mistakes and benefiting from them,” he added. “We hope the Khaleeji 27 final will be the harvest of the work we have put in during the past period.
“We ask the fans to be patient with this team and to continue supporting us. We are expecting strong backing from them in the final.”
Eisa also praised UAE head coach Zlatko Dalic, pointing to the Croatian’s previous success with Al Ain as evidence of his ability to improve a team quickly.
“Dalic is a great coach and knows very well how to get the best out of every player. He also understands clearly what the team needs,” said Eisa.
“When he arrived at Al Ain in 2016, we were going through a difficult season. The team was not in good shape and was competing for one trophy, but within one month he was able to understand what the team needed.
“After that, we managed to win our first trophy. He knows the route to victories.”
The UAE goalkeeper said the team’s recent run of results had provided encouragement ahead of the tournament’s decisive match.
“Thank God for the winning run we have achieved, and we hope it continues until the final,” he said. “We have recorded satisfying results with him, and many positive aspects have appeared in the team.”
Eisa highlighted the UAE’s improved attacking variety and defensive solidity, saying the side had also become more cohesive under Dalic.
“We now have greater variation in attack, while also keeping clean sheets,” he said. “The team has become more united, and we hope to continue working in this way and achieve our objective in the final.”